2001 Ford Taurus Steering Problems

EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE ENGINE CRADLE MAY IMPACT ITS STRUCTURE AND FAILURE CAN IMPACT SUSPENSION AND STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578392

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FRONT ROTORS, BRAKES, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10386194

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

I BOUGHT MY 2001 FORD TAURUS USED, IN 2004 IT HAS BEEN A GOOD CAR UNTIL 2008 WHEN IT STARTED SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A RACK AND PINION, SO I HAD THAT REPLACED AND PAID THROUGH THE NOSE. THE CAR WAS STILL SHAKING, I TOOK IT BACK HE SAID THAT I HAD TO GET IT ALIGNED BECAUSE IT WAS TOWED OUT AND HE DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT. I REPLACED THE NOW BALD TIRED AND HAD IT ALIGNED. STILL SHAKING AND NOW WORSE, I AM NOW UNEMPLOYED AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THE WARRANTY ON THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO IS UP AND HE SAYS IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR HIM TO LOOK AT IT FURTHER. WHEN I HAD IT ALIGNED THEY DID TELL ME THAT THE RODS AND THE STRUTS WERE FINE. SO WHAT EXACTLY COULD THIS BE? AFTER 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES LIKE CRAZY AND THERE IS A WHIRLING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275779

Incident

Dec 31, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE NOISE LEVEL WAS MORE INTENSE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD END. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,700 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,441. UPDATED 09/24/08 *BF UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10239778

Incident

Jan 12, 2006

Mileage

43,700 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE ENTIRE DAY WHEN HE FOUND IT ENGULFED IN SMOKE. THE SMOKE AROSE FROM THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ACTUAL FIRE. THE DASHBOARD BURNED DUE TO THE HEAT. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

NHTSA ID

10202020

Incident

Sep 5, 2007

Mileage

108,000 mi

STRANGE SOUND FROM FRONT RIGHT TIRE IN TERMS OF LOUD SQUEAKING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND ROLLING ROAD. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BROKEN TIE ROD AT THE FRONT RIGHT END. HOWEVER THEY ALSO FOUND THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. THE BROKEN SPRING HAD CUT A DEEP GROOVE INTO THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. I HAD THE BROKEN SPRING AND TIE ROD REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER THE TERMS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR THE TIRE. I PAID FOR A NEW TIRE. ON THE WAY HOME A LOUD HAMMERING SOUND NOW CAME FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AREA WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER AND HE FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR STRUT WAS RUINED DUE TO THE BROKEN COIL SPRING AND REPLACED IT. THE DEALER SAID THE LEFT REAR SPRING WAS GOOD AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY MAIN CONCERN IS NOT THAT I WAS NOT COVERED FOR COST OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRE BUT RATHER THAT THIS BROKEN SPRING BE ALLOWED, BY DESIGN TO RUIN A TIRE THAT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. A NEW SPRING CAN STILL BREAK AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE. I NOW HAVE TO SPEND MY OWN MONEY AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT (IN A FEW WEEKS) TO REPLACE THE COIL SPRING ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE. IF THESE THINGS WERE NOT DESIGNED RIGHT OR MADE RIGHT, WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE TOLD TO CHANGE THEM AFTER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILES RATHER THAN WAIT FOR A FAILURE TO OCCUR AND RISK A TIRE BLOWOUT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158443

Incident

May 16, 2006

Mileage

74,188 mi

CAR PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES AFTER A SHORT 5 MILE DRIVE. SMOKE REPORTED FROM UNDER HOOD. ONCE HOOD OPENED, FOUND SMALL FIRE WHICH WAS EASILY EXTINGUISHED BY OWNER. VEHICLE DRIVEN TO LOCAL FORD DEALER. MECHANIC CLAIMED 3 LEAKES FROM RUPTURED POWER STEERING LINES CAUSED HYDRAULIC FLUID TO SPILL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED LINES FOR $600.00. OWNER HAD TO CLEAN REMAINING FLUID FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112410

Incident

Feb 27, 2005

Mileage

44,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIPS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE RACK AND PINION.*AK IT WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO PARK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION CRACKED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10083603

Incident

Jun 10, 2004

Mileage

42,000 mi

I BOUGHT A NEW FORD TAURUS IN 2001. THREE MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE, A VIBRATION BEGAN IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND HAD REPAIRS. TO MY DISMAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AGAIN IN JANUARY 2002. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AGAIN. APRIL 2002 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, SO MORE REPAIRS. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL I GAVE THE CAR BACK (JULY 2004) DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS AND MANY OTHERS. THE DEALERSHIP, SILSBEE FORD, SEEMED TO ONLY FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY,RESULTING IN ME RETURNING THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND AGAIN. I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT WAS OVERLOOKED AND I ASSUMED TAKING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND AND PROPERLY FIXED. BY MAR 2003 APPR. 21,000 MILES ONE CV SHAFT AND AXLE SEAL REPLACED, ROD ASY REPLACED AT 38,000 MILES, AND BY JAN 2004 THE OTHER CV AXLE WAS REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS HAD THREE SETS OF TIRES BEFORE 60,000 MILES, NEW ROTORS AT APPR. 38,000 MILES. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE REPLACING. CONSUMERS NEED TO BE INFORMED OF MAKESHIFT REPAIRS DONE AT DEALERSHIPS. I TURNED IN MY CAR TO THE COMPANY BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T COMPETENT ENOUGH TO FIND THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION AND THE FORD COMPANY KEEPS STATING THE WARRANTY IS OUT. I KNOW THIS BUT THE PROBLEM IS, MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME OR AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE MY FAMILY WAS ENDANGERED BECAUSE OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF THIS COMPANY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10086607

Incident

Dec 7, 2001

Mileage

11,138 mi

BOUGHT USED 2001 TAURUS IN AUG. OF 2002. ON THE TEST DRIVE I NOTICED THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER AT NO COST TO ME DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND WHEEL BALANCE. I DROVE AGAIN AND IT WAS FINE. APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES LATER THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION RETURNED AND THE CAR WAS AGAIN PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION WAS THAT A WHEEL WEIGHT WAS LOST, BUT HAD NO EXPLAINATION FOR THE PULLING. THEY REBALANCED THE WHEELS AND ROTATED THE TIRES. AGAIN EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL NOV. 2003 AS I WAS DRIVING I ONCE AGAIN FELT THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS MUCH MORE SEVERE ON CORNERING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP(NEAREST FORD DEALER WAS 25 MILES AWAY). THEY FOUND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO HAVE A FLAT SPOT ON THE OUTER TREAD AREA(SLIPPED BELT) AND BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS TO BE LOOSE, THE LEFT ONE BEING EXTERMELY WORN. THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTINENTAL OE TIRES NOT HOLDING BALANCE, HAVING BAD WEAR PROBLEMS, ETC. THEY INSTALLED TWO AFTERMARKET, GREASABLE TIE ROD ENDS AND DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. AT THIS POINT I HAVE SUBMITTED THE REPAIR BILL TO A FORD DEALER FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSMENT, HOWEVER I AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH. MY OPINION IS THAT CONTINENTAL TIRES ARE JUNK AND FORD KNOWS IT. THE FORD DEALER INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHE PROBLEMS LIKE MINE, A MUCH DIFFERENT OPINION THAN THE INDEPENDENT GARAGE. ALSO TIE ROD ENDS USUALLY DON'T FAIL AT 39K MILES FOR NO REASON. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A 2002 TAURUS WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES AND HAS HAD TO HAVE THEM BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION.

NHTSA ID

10071229

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

39,415 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON 12/26/03. UNIT WAS REPLACED WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED PUMP. THIS PUMP FAILED ON 1/2/04. CAR SERVICED ON 1/6/04. TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE BEFORE WE PICKED UP THE CAR THAT EVENING. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER RE-MANUFACTURED UNIT ON 1/7/04. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THAT EVENING. THIS PUMP FAILED ON 1/9/04 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. LUCKILY, IT DID NOT FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD HAD IT REPAIRED THE PREVIOUS TIMES. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN WITH, YES, YOU GUESSED IT, ANOTHER RE-MANUFACTURED POWER STEERING PUMP. CAN'T WE GET A NEW PUMP? I HOPE THAT FORD IS NOT PUTTING RE-MANUFACTURED PARTS INTO YOUR NEW CARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052869

Incident

Jan 9, 2004

Mileage

11,500 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN MOVING THE STEERING COLUMN BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026720

Incident

May 12, 2003

WHILE DRIVING UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024043

Mileage

36,000 mi

WHILE PERFORMING A VISUAL INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER STATES' THERE WAS A POOL OF POWER STEERING FLUID DOWN ON FRAME OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THE POWER ASSIST PUMP NEEDED REPLACING. FIVE MONTHS LATER CONSUMER NOTICED SAME TYPE OF LEAK AGAIN. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FRUTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8022498

Incident

Nov 8, 2002

A SQUEALING SOUND MADE WHEN MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011395

Incident

Mar 15, 2002

WHILE DRIVING OFF A LOT STEERING WHEEL STATRTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE. DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION TWICE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8008576

WHILE PARKING WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER DASH/ AND FLAMES FROM UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. NO INJURIES. 2 DAYS PRIOR, VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR POWER STEERING REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004283

Incident

Feb 15, 2002

POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8001849

Incident

Apr 23, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THAT THAT EXTERIOR BODY HOOD IS UNEVEN, MOLDING BELOW WINDSHIELD WIPER BROKE / CRACKED, RIGHT REAR DOOR HAS POOR FIT. *TT

NHTSA ID

563884

Incident

Nov 30, 2000

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING, TIRES WERE BALANCED AND THE FRONT TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE OUT OF ROUND, WHICH STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID

562709

Incident

Jun 20, 2001